The Washington critic., 1887-06-18
VERY BAD POLITICS.

fore, that just at this particular stage In
the political game the rebel Il ies' are
a dangerous Thing to "moukey' with
The fact that new Dependent Pen
sion bill has just been drafted, under
direction Of the Grand Army of the
Republic, for submission to the mex
Congress, makes It evident upon what
lines the Republicans ARE seeking to
wage the comius rrrsilrulh cim.
pairn.
1t was on the s't,ulih ui th'> knrSl
edge that General Vuulc iuo i.hly pre-
cipitattd the 81. Lout> episode, Tor
which he was quickly q Fed 10 nccouut
by General Sherman md others
twas never part Of the Programme
that the Grand Army should insult
the President ON occasion Of his visit
TO st. Louis, or manifest anything in
the nature of a disloyal spirit toward
the Executive office. Consequently
the Tuttle tduE pas incurred severe
reprobation on all hands, and would
have worked serious prejudice to the
SluuN AlHll eGhClhC hhNi N.'l INV u -
ministration at this most critical juno
ture come tripping to the front with
blunder infinitely more stupid than
Tuttle's, and enabling the opposition
to easily recover its lost ground.
The President is not to be blamed so
much In this matter us the Secretary of
War and the Adjutant General. Mr..
Cleveland probably took 1t for granted
that what they suggested was right
and proper, without giving the sub.
ject any serious consideration. Messrs.
Endicoit and Drum should have found
out beforehand whether 1t was right
and proper to suggest what they did
whether 1t was legal act to begin
with, whether it was politically saga.
cious in the second place, and whether
being in Itself praiseworthy aud patri-
otic, 1t was timely and expedient.
Secretary Endicott may not have
been aware of General Drums hobby,
and this Is mitigating Circumstance
In his favor; but he certainly ought to
have known what the law was, aud
should have been sufficiently advised
as TO the present temper OF the Grand
Army and tue cxigencirs Of The politi.
cal situation not to have indorsed what,
under the circumstances, was certain
TO be productive of the most mis-
chievous results and prove au abiding
cause Of irritation.
Looking at the matter from a party
standpoint, the proposition to return
the rebel flags WAS play directly into
the hands of the enemies of the Al.
ministration. The leaders of the Re
publican party could have asked moth
ing better, and may be depended on to
make the most Of it, their ulterior Oh.
ject being 10 overshadow the tariff
question and any reduction of tariff
taxation this winter, with new pension
legislation aud new sectional issues
whereby to beat Mr.. Cleveland In the
North. The Grand Army posts all
over the country can wei! afford to
pass resolutions of thanks to the Ad.
ministration for its liberal and wholly
unexpected assistance iu this direction.
ONE HUNDRED and nine years ago
to-day the American army broke camp
at Valley Forge, after the most trying
winter in Its experience, and started on
the memorable expedition to intercept
the British forces which, under Sir
Henry Clinton's command. had just
evacuated Philadelphia. This march
eliminated In the battle of Monmouth,
where 1t was shown that notwithstaud-
ing the privatiOns to which the eleven
thousand men at Valley Forge had
been subjected and which were well
calculated to chill their enthusiasm In
the revolutionary cause, they were
still sustained by an unfaltering and
heroic faith. The departure of the
Continental army from Valley Forge
may well be numbered among the most
precious anniversaries of the War of
Independence, and 1t is being duly cele.
brated to day under the auspices Of the
Patriotic Sons of America and the
Memorial Association. The Latter is
now the possGssor of Washnrton's :
headquartcrs, coml rising The old man.
sion and about fouI urres ni ground,
and thousands of ciil,'S ave gathered
upon the historic spot this afternoon To
commemorate the yilor aui virtues
which were here So illustriou,ly cX,
emplilied,
THE Grant Monument Fund Of the
New York star is moving right along,
most Of the subscriptions being in ten.
dollar notes, but not "a few IN smaller
sums. Yesterday rrpurt notes the re.
ceipt Of one cent from "a Iard.Worit.
ing Man" Another sends 1--WE cents;
another ten, and MT u few 60 quarter
on 1t. which all goes 10 show that with
every class and condh in society thD
undertaking is popular one aud
bound to succeed,
The Irish Crimes bill went through
the Committee of the Whole House OF
Commons with rush last night, the
Unionists voting solldly with the Gov
eminent, and the Gladstone men moi
voting at all. The final passage of the
bill has been graciously deferred till
after the Queen jubilee,
THE New York Herah calls 1t q
"mufiled Drum" The President Is
inclined TO think 1t q "snare Drum"
PRorEssoR ROBERT s. BALL, the astron-
omer royal OF ireland, will visit Boston ia
September and place bis son In the Insti-
tpte Of Technology.